2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid
19
Ranked Colleges
494
Degrees Awarded
$18,500
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking.
Geography & Cartography is the 110th most popular major in the country with 8,526 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, geography and cartography graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $38,604 and had an average of $22,522 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 494 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,544 and $20,546 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 19 colleges that offer a degree in geography and cartography. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geography and cartography programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the geography and cartography program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The geography school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid”.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Geography & Cartography in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 56 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region geography students with aid list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,878 for Plains States Region Geography students with aid per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Geography & Cartography Report
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Park University landed the #2 spot on the list. Park University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Parkville, Missouri. It awarded 42 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Park University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Park University is $14,619 for Plains States Region Geography students with aid.
Full Park University Geography & Cartography Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school handed out 34 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $16,559 for plains states region geography students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Missouri - Columbia Geography & Cartography Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwest Missouri State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Northwest is a public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwest did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwest Missouri State University is $12,925 for plains states region geography students with aid.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Northwest
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $19,401 for Plains States Region Geography students with aid per year to attend University of Iowa.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Iowa Geography & Cartography Report
With a ranking of #6, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 17 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $16,438 for Plains States Region Geography students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Northern Iowa Geography & Cartography Report
Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Minnesota State Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Minnesota State Mankato, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $17,159 for Plains States Region Geography students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Minnesota State Mankato
With a ranking of #8, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
UND also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $16,966 for plains states region geography students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at UND
With a ranking of #9, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 15 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
St. Cloud State University also took the #16 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St. Cloud State University is $14,581 for Plains States Region Geography students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Saint Cloud State University
South Dakota State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. South Dakota State is a fairly large school located in Brookings, South Dakota that handed out 25 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
South Dakota State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State is $18,578 for plains states region geography students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at South Dakota State University
University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNOMAHA, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,914 for Plains States Region Geography students with aid per year to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at UNOMAHA
University of Kansas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. KU is a large school located in Lawrence, Kansas that handed out 20 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
KU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $20,257 for Plains States Region Geography students with aid per year to attend University of Kansas.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at KU
University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a public institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UNL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $17,013 for Plains States Region Geography students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at UNL
Kansas State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. K -State is a large public school situated in Manhattan, Kansas. It awarded 20 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,433 for plains states region geography students with aid per year to attend K -State.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at K -State
University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. UMKC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 20 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
UMKC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UMKC is $15,702 for plains states region geography students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Missouri - Kansas City Geography & Cartography Report
With a ranking of #16, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region geography students with aid list, Missouri State has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $16,718 for Plains States Region Geography students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Missouri State University - Springfield Geography & Cartography Report
Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Gustavus Adolphus is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
Gustavus Adolphus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $24,696 for Plains States Region Geography students with aid per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Gustavus Adolphus College
With a ranking of #18, Macalester College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region geography students with aid list, Macalester has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $27,764 for plains states region geography students with aid per year to attend Macalester College.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Macalester Geography & Cartography Report
With a ranking of #19, University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of St Thomas Minnesota is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UST MN, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $31,066 for plains states region geography students with aid per year to attend University of St Thomas Minnesota.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at UST MN
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Couleur.
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